St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-04
DOM ELM ON DECK.
The Farmers Meet in Caucus To Com
slider Their Interests.

The Farmers Meet in Ca ucusS To Con.
slider Their Interests.
About ninety members responded to MI.
Donnelly's circular by assembling in the
house chamber yesterday morning. They
came in in desultory. fashion. and here
and there groups gathered and conversed
about the coming session. In the north
west corner d. E. Myers, of st. Cloud, and
Charles Canning, of Norman county, eX-
members and Farmers alliance men, sat
and conspirpd secretly together; Repre-
SentativeS }. j. Furlong. of Austin, and
Z. MattSOn. of Breckenridge, fixed up mat
tiers i'll the aisle; Ignatius Donnelly got an
introduction all around. and when he met
c. NJ. Reese, of Kandiyohi, he gave out
the information that Mr.. Reese was to be
chairman of the meeting; J. G. Flynn
| looked wise in front seat, while beside
him sat pensively E. T. Champlin, of Gar
den City; ID. S. Hall, of Renville. looked
on from an off corner. Among others were
observed d. j. Knox of Aitkin. w. r.
Estes, of Madelia. E. S. Hoppin, of Aus
tin, a. A. Williams. of Winnebago City,
William Skinner, of New Ulm, j. n.
Jones. of Tracey, S. NJ. Emery, of Lake
City, ii. Kries of Monticello, II. E. Hoard,
of Montevido, NJ. Heisler OF Lake Henry,
Nj. A. Wollan, OF Glenwood, h. A Cos
tello, of Graceville. A. II. Baker, of Ada,
and others. When the caucus came to
order Erich Olson, of Martin county,
Charles Canning and d. E. Myers sat side
by side. and each wore Semi-SOcialiStic
expression in the eye as he listened to the
mixture of philosophy and advice, spread
with some sarcasm, with which IgnatiuS
Donnelly opened the meeting. The sage
said:
THE SAGE CRATES.
Gentlemen: Having called you together it
will be proper 10 say something of the pur-
pose of the meeting. Such meeting is open
to the objection that class organization is I'M
necessary and unwise in legislative body
where all are citizens and all are equals.
There is much truth in this, as a general
proposition, but it is the farmers of the state
VINO for many years past have been complain
ing of wrongs and eXactious, it is the farmers
who have disturbed and conyulSed political
parties, and it is with the grievances of the
farmers that our party platforms have largely
concerned themselves recently. 1t is univer-
sally conceded by men Of all parties that some
thing must be zone to satisfy The farming
element Of the state. But how can this be
done unless the farmers agree upon the pre-
else remedies which they demand? And how
can they do this without coming together
and consulting upon the situation?
Members not farmers say we are ready to
vote for whatever the farmers want, only let
US know what it is. The merchant. the pro-
fessional man, the manufacturer the me-
chanic, have no interest in seeing the farmer
treated unjustly; in fact, their interest is all
the other way. The more prosperous he is,
the more prosperous they are likely to be.
But they cannot speak for U.S. We must
speak for ourselves. We are sure of their
cooperation as long as we ask what is rea-
sonable and just, and agree upon what we
ask. This meeting has been called to give the
farmers an opportunity to act together from
the beginning. We propose to come together
in this way often during the session, and
quietly discuss all measures of vital import
ance to our people; and when we propose
them to the legislature we shall all stand by
our joint work. In making our demands we
should not so much consider what it is posi-
BILE to do as
WHAT IT Is RIGHT TO DO.
! The possession of power makes a just man
| conservative, and he is indeed sorry crea-
ture who will use public place to wreak pri-
vate revenges. We INST avoid extreme
courses. We can move TO faster and no far
Their than public opinion goes with US. The
| pendulum swung too far in one direction is
| certain to rebound as far in the other. We